West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-08-18

any memory of one year ago-of lat
summet-howeyer precious, stand be-
tween you and your happinessln
1--WE never live over again our last
summer" she replied with some con.
straint.
You are right he answered. 1--WE
never live them over There Is only one
thing | want to say TO you, Anita. You
won't be angryi 1t is this: BE sure YOU
know your own mind
"IOu think do not nowf'
II cannot tell. l hope YOU do. Not
all men are wont TO take disappointment
philosophically. Perhaps Grifiiths Would
not "
Miss Hastings cheeks turned a shade
paler. Her dusky complexion had a
BLUSH tinge.
''Arc you getting chilli" he asked.
mot at all. Butt don't sec Walter
anywhere. 1t is strange he should stay
out 80 long
Baxter put up his hand to shade his
eyes. The sun was dazzling.
81 don't see him either" " he said. and
continued to gaze.
He is a perfect swimmer, Anita went
on, uneasily. And surely he would be
careful
Baxter started slightly.
"Can you stay here alone he asked
or go In shore by the linei I'll look for
him.
"rll go ashore. she had begun TO saw.
but he had plunged ON through a great
wave and no longer heard her.
She turned and slowly made her way
back, cllnging ever TO the sagging rope.
But she had not gone far when something
checked her progress and caused her to
face quickly seaward.
A wild outcry that for an instant made
her heart stand still A bitter cry and
sudden honrso shouts. Then the beach
blackened with men and women by thou
sands, other than the bathcrs.
Man drowningv' That was the awful
cry.
Anita Hastings, standing statue.like.
with eyes strained to know the worst,
could not even feel the water that lapped
her ankles. She was incapable OF feel.
ing anything; frozen from head to foot.
For now she knew-half intuitiyely. half
by circumstances that Walter Griniths
was out beyond the reach of the boldest
and going down to his death.
She could not stir. She was numb,
frozen.
The shouts and outcries constantly i'm.
creased until the hubbub was maddeninp
And still she stood there. with only
power for one agonizcd thought.
''If l could only swimp
Walter Griliiths, her lately avowed
lover, the man for whom she had broken
her engagement with Ned Baxter Wal
ter ont there, battling, struggling, de
sparing.
She iancied she saw his arms flung up
for the last, last time then-hush! WHY
should they cheerl What was that2 Who
was that out therel Could she see n
CLEAN of blue and orange above the
breakersl Why should they cheer? Was
itbecause another risked his life to save
her lover'sl Was it because Ned Baxter
had not hesitated, but had gone out TO
save the man who had supplantcd him2
Hush Another cheerl Was she dead her
self Had her heart ceased TO beatl
On either side Of her some one had
caught her arms, and they were dragging
her up the beach.
It seemed to her that she must shrek
aloud Yet she was dumb and growing
deaf and blind as well. Her mother caught
her in her arms.
And now another maddening cheer.
The life savers going out and strong
ropes rapidly uncoiling.
Anita, on her knees by her mothers
side prayed dumbly for the two out
there.
Then she shut her cars with her fingers.
the men were drawing in the ropes: the
rhythmic, awful chant of voices measured
the length of pull and told when 10 cease
and let out with tho cB5.
They were pulling n-what?-whom2
Would the savers bring one rescued man.
one drowned, two drowned, or none at
all-not even cold form with the soul
battered outl
She held her fingers in her ears. The
chant Of the toiiing men would have
crazed her.
And amid louder shricks and hoarscr
clamor the savers staggered ashore at
iast, ana laid two forms upon the gand.
Life was i'm both as vet. But Walter
Gritiiths needed much rolling and pound
ing 10 bring him around Baxter. on
the other hand, speedily revived and
tried 10 stand on his feet.
'I'm all right he murmurcd. but his
lips were quite blue.
Anita Hastings turned 20 him GfiAiths
had been carried 60 his hotel.
''You saved him .' she cried hystcri-
cally.
The crowd took up her words with
mighty cheer
GIVE me your handr cried one man
and then another The women sobbed
aloud.
Anita sank dizzily into her mothers
embrace, and heard rather than saw Ned
Baxter borne home upon mems shoulders
IA hero!
or the three, perhaps Miss Hastings
felt the shock the longest For severn
days she remained almost entirely i'm her
room. Gnhths and Baxter went about
rs if nothing had happened. Gnmths
who was the richer Of the two. showed
the other some extra little attentions
perhaps, but neither alluded in any way
to the late almost tragic occurrence.
Anita Hastings, however, could not
keep from talking about it. Gnhiths
must have been ill -natured on some other
score when one night he responded i'm
patiently to q remark Of hers concerning
Ned Baxter: "You make q perfect god
Of himY
Anita gazcd straight in his face for
moment She was silent. bui her ewes
cleaned omniOuslv
II he had been lost n she said. with
great delibcration. col should never have